Nicklas Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom return to Detroit

DETROIT – A familiar pair of teammates made the trip to Joe Louis Arena Friday morning, but this time it was as retired players rather than players preparing for a game later that night.

Nicklas Lidstrom and Tomas Holmstrom, who both announced their retirements prior to the season, were back in familiar territory with former teammates and staff.

“I miss being in the locker room, being around the guys and I miss the game situations too,” said Nicklas Lidstrom, who watched the Wings’ morning skate with Holmstrom. “When you’re watching the game and it’s the heat of the moment as a player that’s where you want to be.

“It’s such a different pace when you have your usual routine of going down to the practice rink or playing games, being used to travelling all the time,” Lidstrom added. “It’s a slower pace, but I’m enjoying retirement.”

Lidstrom has been keeping busy helping coach his 12-year-old’s hockey team in Sweden and also doing a little scouting for the Wings.

“I’ve watched some of the junior teams, national teams, this fall, and watched some of teams going through my hometown, some of the junior kids. It’s different, kind of a learning process. When you’re watching a whole team it’s hard to pick players out, you have to focus on one or two players that you’re really looking it.”

There was a thought that the pending NHL lockout aided in Lidstrom’s decision to retire, but that wasn’t the case.

“I know what it takes to be there and that’s something I can’t be up to that level of play where I want to be,” Lidstrom said. “That was the main reason I retired and why I’m still retired.

“Whether there was a lockout or no lockout, I still had my mind made up,” Lidstrom continued. “If you come back and play in a shortened season it’s easier, even though it’s a lot more intense. But you have to stay in shape to be able to play at this level, so even if I knew there was going to be a lockout, my decision was already made.”

Quote of the dayWings coach Mike Babcock on running into Holmstrom and Lidstrom Friday, “I told them, ‘I should have loved you more when you were here.’ I miss them so much, the puck gets through the point all the time and Homer got the puck back. Everyone talked about Homer and his ability to tip the puck, but he got it back like no man alive. I even told him when you were yelling at me and I was yelling back it was just me sharing the love. But he said the old lady won’t let him come back.”

Ins and outsPavel Datsyuk missed Friday’s game with a nagging upper-body injury according to Wings general manager Ken Holland and is day-to-day.

The Wings thought there was a chance Datsyuk was going to be able to play and held off on their decision if he could or couldn’t go until right before game time.

Earlier in the day the Wings recalled Gustav Nyquist from Grand Rapids to have him on hand if Datsyuk would not be unable to play.

Don’t expect to see Todd Bertuzzi or Darren Helm anytime soon in the Wings’ lineup.

Both have been out with back injuries.

“I’ve got to believe he’s out probably a minimum of a couple weeks,” Holland said. “When he comes back it’s going to take a week or two to get up and running.”

With Bertuzzi it’s his lower back.

Helm is feeling better each day according to Holland.

“We’re in a holding pattern, I have no idea of time frame,” Holland said. “Doctors aren’t sure if it’s a strain or a slight ligament tear, but they’ve ruled out a disc problem and hairline fracture. Judging by how long he’s been out it’s likely a slight tear.”

Johan Franzen (hip flexor) is out at least through Sunday.

“We’re going to be conservative with him,” Holland said. “Fortunately, we’re 7-4-2, we can be a little conservative.”

The news is better with two other injured forwards – Mikael Samuelsson and Jan Mursak.

“Maybe Sunday or Tuesday for both of them, barring a setback,” Holland said.

Defensemen Brendan Smith and Carlo Colaiacovo, both out with shoulder injuries, are a week to 10 days away from returning according to Holland.

“If not next weekend, then shortly after,” Holland said.

Goalie Jonas Gustavsson (groin) may be heading to Grand Rapids for a conditioning stint.

“Seems like yesterday when I started out in the league,” Tootoo said. “But I feel great after all of the years of battling in the corners and what not. It’s just another game for me.”

Tootoo, who signed a three-year deal worth $1.9 million a season with the Wings at the start of free agency this past summer, said playing in his first NHL game has been his best memory so far.

“It was a huge milestone for me, but you know, you come to practices, you come to games, you prepare for whatever’s thrown at you and after all of these years I’m very fortunate for what the opportunity for what I’ve been able to do, and I’m just happy to be a part of a special team,” Tootoo said.

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